The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-01-26


of the United Kingdom. The second is
the flag of the Lord High Admiral, q
crimson banner with an anchor agent,
gorged in the arm with a coronet,
and cable through the ring,
fretted in q true-lover's knot, with
ends pendent. Third, the flag of the
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, Union
Jack, having in the center of the crosses
blue shield, emblazoned with a golden
harp. Fourth, the Union, or Union
Jack, in which are blended the crosses
of st. George, st. Andrew and st. Pat
rick, emblematic of the united king
doms of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Fifth and last, is the flag of the cross of
st. George, white, with a red cross, the
sign of the old crusaders. Each one of
these flags represents not only the diff
ferent British possessions and various
bran'y hes Of the government, but also
the diivalrous, religious and patriotic
sentiments.
The French flag is, comparatively, a
modern idea. Under the feudal system
every lord had his own personal coat of
arms or standard. In the year 1894
the present standard was adopted. 1t
is composed of three equal bands placed
vertically, the hoist Cor the part near
est the staff) being blue, the center
white and the fly Tor the enD red.
This tricolor is supposed to be a union
of the blue banner of st. Martin, the
red banner of st. Denis and the 'cor-
nette blanche;" there being evidence
that these colors have been regarded as
the national emblem for centuries.
The flag most recently added to the
family of European nations is the black,
red and gold banner, of the North Ger
man Empire. When Emperor Bar
barossa was crowned, in the year 1852,
the road to the palace was covered
with carpet, into which were woven
the colors black, red and gold. After
the coronation the carpet was given to
the people and cut into strips, which
were carried by them about the city as
flags. During the heated discussion
in the National Assembly at Frankfort
in 1S48 as to which combination of
colors should have precedence, Freil-
grath said: Powder is black. blood is
red and golden tlickers the flame, and
that is the old imperial standard.
like the motto of Frederic Wilhelm:
"From night-through blood-to
light"
/ might draw attention to the flags,
and the associated sentiment, of many
other nations, both ancient and mod
ern, but will pass on to our own grand
and beautiful star-spangled banner,
which represents a nobler, purer and
more patriotic sentiment. Its stripes
of red and white proclaim the
original union of thirteen States
which were associated to main.
tain the Declaration of Independence
Its stars-white in field of blue-pr
claimed National Constitution, which
receives a new star with every added
State. The two together signify, Unior
past and present. The language ever
of the colors was officially recognized
by our fathers-white is for purity, rec
for valor and the blue for justice.
Hon. George F. Hoar, in 1878, said
II have seen the glories of art ant
architecture, and mountain and river
have seen the sunset on Jungfrau
and the full moon rise on Mont Blanc
but the fairest vision on which thes,
eyes ever looked was the flag of my
country in foreign land-beautiful a
flower to those who love it, and ter
rible as a meteor to those who hate it
1t is the symbol of the power and glor,
and the honor of 100000 of Amer
leans"
| At the close of the first day of tina
terrible battle of Shiloh (or Pittsburgh
Landing), after having been driven b,
superior numbers from seven differen
Times of defense, losing in killed ant
wounded one-third of the whole com
mand, without food or rest, saddenet
by the loss of many comrades
and friends, we waited anxiousl.
for the evenings last attack before sun
down, knowing that if we did not sue
cessfully resist it we would be forced t.
surrender or be driven into the river
when suddenly there appeared ap
preaching us, on the opposite sid
of the river, body of mounte'
men. In the distance and in the dir
light we could not distinguish then
from friend or foe, but when on tn
rising ground at bend in the road, tn
smoke from the battlefield cleared
little, and we saw the grand old Star
and Stripes, then we knew they wer
friends, and that the long-expected an
much-needed reinforcements were a
hand. Our hearts were filled with re
newed hope and courage, and whe
General Buell's first brigade crosse
the river and marched up the bank, it
band playing the grand old air eth
Star Spangled Banner" many battle
SCARED and powder-begrimmed so
dier's eyes were filled with tears, an
the shout of exultation and defianc
made the woods ring. The enem
heard it above the din and roar of tn
battle, and knew it was harbinger {
their next days defeat. Even tn
wounded seemed to revive and becom
, inspired with new hope and courage.
once saw q vOunp soldier who BIZ